Problem Solving and Program Design

Programming Problem Solving and Program Design

Problem Solving Process • Define and analyze the problem. • Develop a solution. • Write down the solution steps in detail. • Test the solution and revise if necessary. • Document and maintain the solution.

Programming as aProblem Solving Process • Define and analyze the problem • What is the input & output? • What constraints must be satisfied? • What information is essential? • Design an algorithm • What steps must be done? • Write down the solution steps in detail • Implement a program - programming or coding. • Compile, test, and debug the program - testing. • Document and maintain the program. Problem solving phase Implementation phase

Example 1 • Problem Statement: Convert US dollars into Hong Kong dollars. • Problem Analysis: • Input: Amount in US$ • Output: Amount in HK$ • Apply official currency exchange rates.

Example 1 Algorithm design • Read in amount in US$ • Calculate the HK$ amount = 7.8*US$ • Display the results

// converts US$ to HK$ #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main(){ double usdollars; double hkdollars; // read in amount in US$ cout <<"Enter US$ amount and press return: “ << endl; cin >> usdollars; // calculate the HK$ amount hkdollars = 7.8 * usdollars; // display the results cout << "US$" << usdollars << " = HK$" << hkdollars << endl; return 0; }

Program Implementation: • Program comments: // • Library reference: #include • Function type: int • Function name and (lack of) parameters: main( ) • Statement braces: { } • Variable declaration: double • Input/output functions: cin, cout

Using Visual C++ • Enter source code • Compile source code • If there are error or warning messages, double-clicking on the error message will cause an arrow to point to the line where the suspected error is. Edit the source code and recompile. • Build execution module • Execute • If there are errors, edit the source code and recompile • Save source files on floppy disk (A:) • Remove source file from hard disk (C:)

Just do it!

What Makes a Good Program? • Correctness • Meets the problem requirements • Produces correct results • Easy to read and understand • Easy to modify • Easy to debug • Efficient • Fast • Requires less memory

Example 2 • Problem Statement • Given a collection of nickels (US 5-cent piece) and pennies (US 1-cent piece), find the equivalent number of Hong Kong dollars and 10-cent pieces. • Problem Analysis • Input: • nickels (integer) - number of US nickels • pennies (integer) - number of US pennies • Output: • dollars (integer) - number HK dollar coins to return • houji (integer) - number HK 10-cent coins to return • Constraints: None

Example 2: Initial Algorithm 1. Read in the numbers of nickels and pennies 2. Compute the total value in US dollars 3. Compute the total value in HK dollars to exchange 4. Find the number of HK dollar coins and houji coins 5. Display the numbers well-labeled

Example 2: Program Skeleton // File: excoin.cpp // Determines the number of HK coins to exchange for US coins #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main(){ int nickel; // number of nickels int penny; // number of pennies int dollar; // number of HK dollar coins int houji; // number of HK 10-cent coins double total_USD; // total value in US$ double total_HKD; // total value in HK$ // Read in the number of nickels and pennies // Compute the total value in US$ // Compute the total value in HK$ to exchange // Find the numbers of HK dollar and 10-cent coins // Display the numbers of HK dollar and 10-cent coins return 0; }

Example 2: Refined Algorithm 1. Read in the number of nickels and pennies 2. Compute the total value in US dollars total_USD = (5 * nickel + penny)/100 3. Compute the total in HK dollars to exchange total_HKD = total_USD * US2HK 4. Find the number of HK dollar coins and 10-cent coins total_HK_cent = total_HKD * 100 dollar = total_HK_cent / 100 houji = (total_HK_cent % 100) / 10 5. Display the number of HK dollar and 10-cent coins

C++ Arithmetic Operators • The four operators +, -, *, and / work as we expect with the “normal” precedence rules (e.g., 5+2*3 = 11) • Parenthesis can be inserted to change the order of operations (e.g., (5+2)*3 = 21) • Be careful of integer division -- any remainder is discarded • The % (modulo) operator gives the remainder of integer division

// File: excoin.cpp // Determines the number of HK coins to exchange for US coins #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main(){ const double US2HK = 7.8; // assume exchange rate is US$1 = HK$7.8 int nickel; // number of nickels int penny; // number of pennies int dollar; // number of HK dollar coins int houji; // number of HK 10-cent coins double total_USD; // total value in US$ int total_HK_cent; // total value in HK cents double total_HKD; // total value in HK$ // Read in the number of nickels and pennies cout << "Enter the number of nickels and press return: "; cin >> nickel; cout << "Enter the number of pennies and press return: "; cin >> penny;

// Compute the total value in US$ total_USD = (5 * nickel + penny) / 100.0; // Compute the total value in HK$ using the assumed exchange rate total_HKD = total_USD * US2HK; // Find the value in HK dollars and change total_HK_cent = total_HKD * 100; dollar = total_HK_cent / 100; houji = (total_HK_cent % 100)/10; // Display the number of HK dollar and 10-cent coins cout << "The change is HK " << dollar << " dollars and " << houji << " 10-cent coins." << endl; return 0; }

Problem Solving and Program Design